/crime
(CNN) -- An explosive device that went off in an Oregon bank Friday night, killing two, was initially deemed harmless by a bomb technician who died in the blast, court documents revealed Wednesday.
Two state troopers were killed when a bomb exploded inside West Coast Bank in Woodburn, Oregon.
The bomb killed Bill Hakim, a state police bomb-disposal technician, and Woodburn Police Capt. Tom Tennant, according to a probable cause report filed in the case.
Both men were 51 years old.
Police have arrested a father and son in connection with the bombing, which also critically injured a police chief and wounded a bank employee.
The explosion occurred after the nearby Wells Fargo Bank received a threatening phone call earlier in the day from an unknown person, police said. When authorities arrived at the Wells Fargo Bank, they found a "suspicious object" that was determined not to be dangerous.
Further investigation led to a suspicious device outside the West Coast Bank, about 150 feet away, State Police spokesman Lt. Gregg Hastings said.
Hakim, a bomb technician, inspected and X-rayed the second device, according to the probable cause report.
"He stated he was confident that it was a hoax device and that it could be taken apart to be placed into evidence," the report says.
Hakim then brought the device inside the West Coast Bank building to work on it, with the assistance of Tennant and Russell.
"The device then detonated, dismembering and killing bomb tech Hakim and Capt. Tennant, " the report says.
Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell, 46, lost his right leg from just above his knee, the document states. His left leg was mutilated and his jaw was shattered, among other injuries.
A female bank employee also was wounded, but she was treated at a hospital and released, the Oregon State Police said.
Joshua Abraham Turnidge, 32, made a first appearance before a Marion County judge Tuesday on charges including aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and assault.
Dressed in green jail scrubs and wearing leg irons as he appeared before Circuit Judge Joseph Ochoa, Turnidge spoke only to say "yes" when Ochoa asked him if he wished to be represented by a court-appointed lawyer.
Also Tuesday, authorities arrested Joshua Turnidge's father, Bruce Turnidge, 57, of Salem. The elder Turnidge faces a charge of conspiracy to manufacture an explosive device and conspiracy to possess an explosive device, the Marion County District Attorney's Office said. He will appear before a judge Thursday.
Authorities arrested Joshua Turnidge Sunday after tracing numbers of prepaid cell phones found on the explosive devices to a Wal-Mart in Bend, Oregon, the report states.
After reviewing surveillance video and purchase records from the store, police said they were able to identify a license plate number on a pickup truck registered to Bruce Turnidge. They also identified Joshua Turnidge on the video as a man seen buying items.
Police also searched the truck, with Joshua Turnidge's permission, and interviewed his fiancee, who contradicted statements he made to police, the report says.
Woodburn is in the Willamette Valley, about 30 miles south of Portland.
Joshua Turnidge is set for arraignment December 26.
All About Oregon
| Most Viewed | Most Emailed | Top Searches |
From the Blogs: 
Sit tight, we're getting to the good stuff
